Means for regulating the illumination of films in kinematographs.



B. GWO ZDZ. MEANS FOR REGULATINQTHE ILLUMINATION 0P FILMS IN KINBMATOGRAPHS.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1909 947,490, Patented Jan.25,1910. 4 sums-4111:1113 1.

. B. GWOZDZ. MEANS FOR REGULATING THE ILLUMINATION 0P FILMS IN KINEMATOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1909.

947,490, 1 Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

I 4 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

. B. GWOZ DZ. v MEANS FOR REGULATING THE ILLUMINATION OF FILMS IN KINEMATOGRAPHS. APPLICATION FILED M11124, 1909.

I 947,490. Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. GWOZDZ. MEANS FOR BEGULATING THE ILLUMINATION 0P FILMS IN KINEHATOGBAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.,

" HOAX I I l-I'M q of light be' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BBONIBLAW GWOZDZ, OF SCHIABGENDORF, NEAR BERLIN, GER-MANY.

MEANS EON. REGULATING THE ILLUMINATION 0F FILMS IN KINEMATOGRAQPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

Application filed July 24', 1909. Serial No. 509,369.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnonrsnaw Gwoinz', a

Illumination of Films in Kinematographs of which the following is a specification.

' The subject-matter of my invention is improved means for regulating the illumination of unevenly transparent films in kinemat-o-graphs.

The circumstance that, when kinematographic films are copied, very diflereiit perviousness of the films to light is obtained. 0. g. owing to fluctuations in the luminosity of the lamp or owing to unequal development, causes considerable and frequent fluctuation of the brightness on the sheet when the pictures are projected which greatly tires the spectators eye and produces a flickering sensation. Also owing to pictures having a dark background being sometimes replaced by others having a bright background and thus sometimes more and sometimes less light being reflected by the sheet, the opticnerves tire rapidly, even if in the latter instance it is endeavored to avoid too great difi'erences by regulating the lamp by hand.

Now a primary object of my invention is to provide purely automatic means for keeping the quantity of light reflected from the sheet always at one normal value, it being indifferent whether the film is more transparent at the part which is projected at any instant than at the other parts. I attain this end by arranging that the light reflected by the sheet acts on a selenium cell, by which the light proceeding from the source of light isregulated corresponding to the transparency of the part of the film located in front of the objective at any instant either by the source of light itself being influenced or by a screen, e. g. in the form of a two-part lined screen, located in front of the source correspondingly adjusted. I have folmd, owever, that with these-means it is not possible to ualize completely the fluctuations of the bril iancy of the pictures on the sheet, but that in reality, it is only posible to diminish ,these fluctuations by one-half. The cause of this is that in my above described means the circumstance is not taken into consideration that at the moment when the screen begins its action with regard to regulating the light in order to bring the total light of the projected picture on the sheet to the normal value, the resistance-of the selenium cell also simultaneously varies, 2'. 6. does not remain constant, and these variations of resistance in the selenium cell occur under the influence of the movement of the screen in such manner that the resistance will approach a normal value in agreement with the equalization of the difference in. brilliancy of the projected pic ture. Qonsequently with such means the final ad ustment of the screen must be less than is necessary for perfectly equalizing the temporary difference in brilliancy.

' In order to make non-injurious'the reaction of the screen on the selenium cell, according to myinvention I provide in addition to the above mentioned selenium cell a second selenium cell which, however, is influenced by the light radiated by the source of light but not by the light which has passed through the film, which second cell acts either likewise on the same polarlzed magnet or on the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine in combination .with the former selenium cell in such manner that in the same measure as the force of the magnet is varied under the influence of the changes in resistance of the first selenium cell due to the movement of the screen, does the second selenium cell bring this force of the magnet simultaneously. to the same value again, and consequently the total force of the magnet remains the same as that which was brought about in the magnet temporarily owin to the first selenium cell being illuminate above or under the normal. The consequence of this is that in spite of the first selenium cell not being able to maintain its resistance which was produced by excessive or deficient illumination, as soon as the diminution or increase of light on the sheet has begun owing to the corresponding movement of the screen, so that, as already mentioned, it is notpossible to move the screen so much as to obtain perfeet equalization of the temporary differences in light in proportion to that quantity of light on the sheet which is taken as normal, it is nevertheless possible with the. aid of the second selenium cell to move the screen so much that the excess or deficiency of light on the sheet is entirely done away with and that the screen can continue to remain in the same position in spite of the first selenium cell in this event possessing I duces in its two iron cores.

-first selenium'cell 006818101183. gradual screen is in such increase ust res ondingly. v net ie' force of the same resistance as when portions of the film of normal transparency are projected. The, action thus solely depends on the mutual influence of the variations of resistance caused by the two selenium cells on the iron cores polarized by the permanent magnets. In the normal condition, 2'. 6. when the parts of the projected film-located in front of the objective have average transparency and the a position that the lines of the same are half opened, the currents traversing the two selenium cells are equal and simultaneously fiow around their iron cores in opposite directions, therefore at that moment exercise no influence on the iron cores, because in such a condition their magnetizingactions reciprocally cancel one another. Therefore in this event the position of the screen or armature operating it depends solely on the amount of magnetism which the permanent magnet constantly pro- Now the current I of the circuit containing the first selenium cell flows in such a direction around the iron cores that it tends to destroy the magnetism produced by the permanent magnet in its iron cores. The current which flows-through the circuit containing the second selenium cell, however,

exercises suchan action by means of the the iron cores that it tends to as much the magnetism produced by the permanent magnet. When the the circuit containing the first windings on current in selenium cell has risen a certain percentage, however, e. g. owing to increased illumination of the first selenium cell and the reduced resistance occasioned thereby, the magnetism produced in the iron core by the per-mane t magnet is first diminished cor- The diminution of the magthe iron core of the magnet causes the armature with the screen to be moved away from the magnet under the influence of the spring acting on the screen, this movement takes place m such manner that the passage of the light is diminished. Up to this time and before the screen has begun to move"'the second selenium cell undergoes no changes; but as soon as the screen begins to move its resistance will constantly become 'correspondingl eater in agreement with the gradual diminution of light. But now the'diminished transparency acts on thetw'o selenium cells'simultaneously, namel on the first cell in such manner that the resistance'which had previously sunk inconsequ'ence luminous action rises 'correspondin decrease in lightin -co'nsequence o the diminished "transparency consequently the 1ncrease in themagneti'citorce of the iron cores of the magnet, 'so' that the screen cannot now move so far. as it could before. But

of increased to the is w ich passes from since the second selenium cell likewise increases in resistance in consequence of the reduced transparency, it acts in such manner on the magnet that the magnetic force is diminished, But since the changes of resistance occasioned at the two selenium cells are caused by the same cause, namely diminished transparency at thescreen, the changes in resistance must'be equally large in the two cases and act in the same sense on the polarized iron cores of the magnet.

The consequence is that'neither the one nor the other seleniumcell can exercise such an influence on the movable part of the screen after the screen has been adjusted corresponding to the transparency of the film, but that, on the contrary, on the basis of the total actionof the two selenium cells the original adjustment of the screen must be maintained until an alteration in the transparency of the film, which no longer corresponds to the given position of the screen, causes the movable part of the screen to be adjusted afresh.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now explain the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which several embodiments are diagrammatically re resented by way of example.

In said awings:-Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically one form employing one screen, and Fig 2 shows diagrammatlcally another form in which the source of light itself is influenced; Fig.3 is a form of the electromagnet used for moving the screen; 4 shows diagrammatically another form of the invention in which a two-part screen is employed; Fig. 5 is a diagram of another form in which the enerator for the source of light is influence whereas Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically another form in which a double screen is employed and Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a modified form of arrangement containing a two-part screen, and

Fig. 8 shows a screen movable around only one axis.

Referring to the ticularly to Fig; 1, 1 is having the condenser 2 and containin a source of light 3. A picture is projected by means of the objective 4 from the film 5 onto the sheet 6. Now according to my invention I employ a selenium cell 7 which is preferably arranged in a hollow mirror 8 of suitable .shape in such manner that the rays of light-reflected from the sheet 6 are received by the mirror 8 and thrown onto the selenium cell. The latter is in a circuit which contains in addition to the bat tery 9 an electromagnet 10, so that this is ener ized the more, the greater the current battery, 9 when the illumination .of cell 7 ,is increased. Freferably there is arranged between condenser "2 and objective t or at another suitable place drawing, and firstly parthe usual chamber a suitable screen which is to be influenced by the electroniagnet 10. In this constructional form a two-part screen 11, 13 is supposed, as clearly shown. The one part 11 of this screen is arranged in a fixed frame 12, whereas the other 13 carried in a frame 14 is attached to a sprin 15 mounted on a frame 16. On its other side frame 14 is at-- and 13 acting as screens are normally, '5. e.

when electromagnet 10 is correspondingly energized, located so that theyare half open, the normal quantity of light will pass through them from the source of light 3. But if the film is then too transparent in comparison with this quantity of light, the resistance of the selenium cell 7 becomes smaller and electromagnet 10 stronger, so that the spaces between the lines become smaller and the quantity of light is correspondingly diminished. Consequently, in spite of the transparent portion of film only tltile same quantity of light is reflected by the s eet.

Instead of the simple electromagnet a polariz ed magnet can be employed, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the screen is also under the action of the spring and magnet when no light falls on the sheet, so that the oscillations of the screen are more exact and the entire device is much more sensitive to the fluctuations of current produced by the selenium cell. In order to obtain still greater sensitiveness a magnet constructedaccording to Fig. 3 can be-employed. In this figure there is provided between the poles of a constant magnet 22 the coil 23 influenced by the circuit'closed through the selenium cell, said coil bein provided with a lever 24 which acts direct y on the screen, as clearly shown. As previously mentioned above, the same effect can be obtained by increasing or diminishin the source of light itself in agreement witfi the transparency of the film. Fig. 2 shows this constructional form. The source-of light 3 is here fed from a generator whose field can be demagnetized, for example, by a coil 21. This coil is located in the circuit fed by battery 9 and containing the selenium cell 7. There-' fore, if the selenium cell is energized when the sheet 6 is too brightly illuminated it causes a stronger current to pass through coil 21 and the generator 20 to be correspondingly demagnetized. The current supplied by the latter thus becomes weaker and I also the source of light 3.

Referring now to the constructional form shown in Fig. 4, 2 designates the condenser, 3 the source of light, 1 the objective, and 5 the film. cated in a hollow mirror 8. which cell is in the circuit of a battery 9 and acts on an electromagnet 10 by means of the winding a. Between the condenser and film is attached a suitable screen, 6. g. the two-part screen 11, 13, of which part 11 is stationary and part 13 movable under the influence of elec 7 denotes the selenium cell lotromagnet 10 which acts on theone end of the part'of the screen, whereas this part is subjected on its other side to the action of a spring 15. According to my invention I employ second selenium cell 6 which is illuminated by means ofa transparent, slantingly arranged mirror 0 by light which has not passed through the film 5. This second selenium cell is also located in a circuit containing battery 9 and likewise acts on the polarized magnet 10 but with a special winding cl.

The. device operates. as follows :-The screen 11, 13 is adjusted in such manner that when a film of average transparency is employed and when the selenium cells 7 and b are illuminated correspondingly the slits in the parts 11, 13 are half open, as mentioned above. It will now be supposed that the part of the film which is to be projected is more transparent as compared with a part assumed to be normal. Then, in spite of this greater transparency of the film, the

selenium cell 7) is not influenced at first,

since the light passing through the screen has remained the same. The resistance of this selenium cell and with it the influence on the polarized electromagnet therefore undergoes no change. In the case of the selenium cell 7, on the contrary, as already described above with reference to Fig. 1, a diminution of resistance takes place at this moment in consequence of the greater quantity of light reflected by the sheet, so that the polarized iron core of the electromagnet 10 is demagnetized by. winding a more .than is the case normally. Consequently, the electromagnet will lose part of its force sothat the tension spring 15 can move the part 13 somewhat in such manner that the transparency of the screen 11, 13 is diminished. Now as soon 'as this adjustment of the screen begins, however, the quantity of light passing through the film is This cell will of course increase in resistance at the same rate and losefits demagnetizlng influence in like manner on the polarized iron core of the permanent magnet, in other words will tend no longer tomovethe art- 13 so far as this was'the case shortly befbre, when the normal quantity, of light was thrown through, the more transparent part of the film onto the sheet and when the form described above with reference to Fig.

selenium cell possessed a greater perviousness to current in consequence of diminished resistance and the screen 13 itself had experienced as yet no movement. If the selenium cell had been able to follow this tendency, as is the case in the constructional 1, it will be readily understood that it would be impossible to completely cancel the excess of light as compared with the normal value. In order to attain this end the cell 1) is employed which was likewise influenced with regard to its resistance when the part 13 was moved by the first excitement of cell 7 for diminishing the transparency. Then a diminished quantity of light likewise fell simultaneously on cell 6, its resistance was increased as compared with its averagevalue, and consequently the polarized elect-romagnet 10 was simultaneously weakened by winding (1 in such manner that in proportion as the selenium cell increased its resistance again after'its first action with the diminished quantity of light brought about on the sheet, the selenium cell I; acted through winding (1- on the part 13 in agreement with the diminished perviousness. The resulting influences of the cells 7 and b on the iron cores of the polarized electromagnet 10 act by their exercising always the same influence on the magnet, in other words, the screen 13 must remain in that position which is given to it at the beginning by the first influence of the cell 7, when the new aperture of the screen corresponds to the increased transparency of the film and causes such a screening eflfect that the increased transparency is negatived and only the average quantity of li ht acts on the sheet. In like manner, on y reversely, do the two cells 7 and 6 act on the screens 11 and 13 when the transparency of the film is diminished as compared with its normal value, namely when the transparency of the film is diminished corresponding to the increase in transparency of the screens 11, 13.

Similarly as described above with reference to F 1g. 2, in this last described constructional form of my invention the screen shown in Fig. 4 can be omitted. and the selenium cell can act on the generator 20 'for the are 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Here thecell 7 again acts on coil (1 and cell 7; on winding d of the generator 20. The influence on this generator is, of course, the same as on the polarized electromagnet according to Fig. 4:. Corresponding to the fluctuating exciting current the. are 3 becomes larger or smaller and with'it' the quantity of light acting on -t e' filml is'varied. As Fig; 5 further shows, t e selenium cell 6 can be placed directly opposite the source of light 3, the mirror 0 shown in Fig. 4: being" omitted.

The same action as is obtained in the form according to Fig. 4, in which the light is regulated by a screen and two selenium cells, can also be obtained with only one selenium cell. In this event a portion of the light which has passed through the fihn is sent through a special screen before it arrives at the selenium cell. This screen acts in an opposite sense to the screen in front of the arc, namely when the latter screen opens the passage for light the former simultaneously closes.

The screen employed in Fig. 6 comprises an immovable part 11 and a movable part 13 to which is attached on the one hand the armature of magnet 10 and on the other hand spring 15. As shown in the drawing,

this screen is so broad that it screens both the light emitted by the arc and the portion of light deflected by prism e and falling on the selenium cell 7 which has passed through film 5. In the event of the armature of magnet 10 being attracted and the movable part of the screen being consequently moved thereby, the one portion 13 of the movable part of the screen, i. e. that through which the light falling "on selenium cell passes, acts oppositely to the portion through which the light of the arc passes in such manner, 6. 9., that during this motion the a ertures in the last mentioned ortion of t 's screen are enlarged, while t e apertures in portion 13" of the screen, through which the light falling on the selenium cell passes, are diminished, whereas the reverse action takes lace, in the event of the armature being re eased by the magnet, for example, and moved upwardly by spring 15, when the apertures of the portion of the screen located in front of the selenium cell are enlarged, while in this event those in front of the are are diminished. In the case of normal transparency of the film 5 and corresponding illumination of cell 7 the two parts of the screen 11, 13 and 11, 13 are half open. Now ifthe projected part of the film becomesv more trans-- parent, for example, a correspondingly larger quantity of light will act by way oi prism e, IIllIlOI f and lens 9 on the selenium cell 7, the resistance of the same will be decreased and magnet 10 weakened, in other art of the screen 11, 13 will close,

'11, 13 the screen 11, 13, was also simultaneously correspondingly adjusted, but in such manner that the transparency for the light reflected by mirror f and falling on the cell was increased, whereas it was diminished by part of the screen 11, 13 forthe ;ing been diminished less light does not illuminate theselenium cell' n'owand conseqnently there is also no occasion for the temporary resistance produced by the more transparent portion of the film to be varied,

in other Words the screen 11, 13 remains in a position which corresponds exactly to the transparency of thefilm at any time. Here also a generator'may beused instead of the polarized electromagnet 10, of course,- without departing fromlthe spirit and sco e of the 1nvent1on.' The screen which throttles the light coming from the light chamber;

must of course be omitted however, and the parts of the screen'11' 13 are solely used; Further, it is possible to'a-rrange the selen um cell? not onl in front. of, but also be hind the sheet in t e focus of a hollow mirror made so large that-it collects the entire light on the sheet and imparts it to the selenium cell. Again, when selenium cells have been spoken'of in the above, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited 'by'these, but. that instead of them then'no electric cells or any other suitably sensitive means which react to light may be used. i

In those cases when the screen is used in the form of a two-part line screen, it'is pref-- 40 erable to suspend the movable part 12 with its frame on two shown in Fi 7. ver 1' is connected below with the spring 15 and its other end is under I tional forms are represented on them.

the influence of the-polarized electromagnet 10. When the fulcrums, k and l of the two levers are located in one plane, 111 this con structional form the frame of screen 12 must be moved exactly at ri ht angles to the lines of the-screens-and 'exactly.

r ectly rectilinear-1", so that the-screen can adjusted and regu ated Further,v when the levers and I the screen are mounted 'between centers the dejustment.

It is, to be understood that the drawings show only some prefelzred constructionalforms. of. my-mvention; no other construe I claim 1. Inmeans for tion of unevenly transparent films inkinematographs, the combination with thekine a' sourc'e of ii ht and a matograph ha nt thereof, 0 electrical film movable an electric circuit containivoted levers hand i, as

vice is very suitable for very sensitive adv -'il uminated b through, said fi m.

regulating the illumina- In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature ing means which react to ligh for increas matographs, the combination with the kinematograph having a source of light and, a film/movable in front thereof, of adjustable means between said source of light and said film for increasing and diminishingv the strength of the light falling on the film, and electrical means com rising a selenium cell for operating saidad ustable means, said se= lenium cell being illuminated by light which has passed through said film. v

3. In means for regulating the illumination-of unevenly transparent films in kinematographs, the combination with the ine- -matograph having a source of light and a film movable in front thereof, of" adjustable means between said source of light and said film for increasing and diminishing the strength of the light fallingon the film, and

electrical means comprisin two selenium cells for operating said a justable means, one of said cells being illuminated by light which has passed through said film and theother cell .beingilluminated by light from said source of light before itv has passed throu h saidfilm.

4. I means forregulating the illumination of unevenly transparent films in kinematographs, the cohibination with the kinematograph havingta sour'ceof light anda film movable in front thereof, of a twopart, adjustable screen between said source of light and-said film,and an electric circuit com rising a batteryyan electromagnet and a:- se enium .cell, said electromagnet being adaptedto operate said screen, and said cell illuminated by light which has passed throu h said film. i 5.. 11 means for regulating the illumination' of unevenly transparent'films in kinemato'graphs, the'combination with the kinematog'raph having a source of light and av movable in front thereof, of'a twopart, adjustablescreen between said source of light andsaid film, a magnet for operating said screen,two electric circuits each hawing an oppositely-wound .coil on said magnet, and two selenium'cells arran d one Y in each circuit, both said selenium cel s being illuminated by light from said source of 1i t, and one ofv said selenium'cells being in the presence of two witnesses.

" i-if In i' mu. SPER,

Wommum light which has passed BaoN sLAW ewozoz. i 

